Specific Heat

Front

What is specific heat?

Back

Specific heat is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1ºC.

Front

What is the equation for calculating change in thermal energy?

Back

The equation is Q = mc∆t, where Q is the thermal energy, m is the mass, c is the specific heat, and ∆t is the change in temperature.

Front

If you have two pans of water, one with 100 mL and one with 1000 mL, and you add the same amount of energy to both, which will have a greater change in temperature?

Back

The 100 mL pan will have a greater change in temperature.

Front

What does the symbol 'Q' represent in the specific heat formula?

Back

'Q' represents the thermal energy in the specific heat formula.

Front

What unit is used to measure thermal energy?

Back

The unit used to measure thermal energy is Joules (J).

Front

How does mass affect the change in temperature when the same amount of energy is added?

Back

A larger mass will result in a smaller change in temperature when the same amount of energy is added, due to the specific heat capacity.

Front

What factors influence the specific heat of a substance?

Back

The specific heat of a substance is influenced by its molecular structure and the type of bonding present.

Front

What is the relationship between specific heat and temperature change?

Back

The relationship is inversely proportional; a substance with a high specific heat will experience a smaller temperature change when a given amount of energy is added.

Front

What is the specific heat of water?

Back

The specific heat of water is approximately 4.18 J/gºC.

Front

How do you calculate the change in temperature using the specific heat formula?

Back

To calculate the change in temperature, rearrange the formula to ∆t = Q/(mc).